Posts filed under 'Seen On Netflix'
THE SUN- Premise by Netflix. “From renowned director Aleksandr Sokurov comes a piercing historical drama about Japan’s emperor Hirohito at the end of World War II. Faced with his country’s defeat and the renunciation of his divine status, Hirohito must establish his own identity. Sokurov’s exquisite cinematography accentuates this examination of diplomacy and personal responsibility as Hirohito agrees to meet with American Gen. MacArthur in an attempt to move Japan forward.” Very good reviews.
6/10- Very slow but wonderful depiction of Hirohito and the emotional conflict regarding Japan’s surrender. Highly recommended but not if you’re tired. TRDB.
Tags: docudrama, Foreign
May 23rd, 2010
TONY MANERO- Premise by Netflix. “Set in 1978 Chile during the tyrannical reign of Augusto Pinochet, Pablo Larraín’s gritty drama centers on Tony Manero wannabe Raúl (Alfredo Castro), whose obsession with Saturday Night Fever leads him into dangerous territory. Bent on creating the ultimate disco routine, Raúl sets out to acquire the illuminated dance floor that will bring him one step closer to his idol. Amparo Noguera and Héctor Morales co-star.” Very good reviews.
6/10- Very powerful and disturbing but at the same time very good. TRDB.
Tags: drama, Foreign
May 23rd, 2010
“THE MESSENGER- Premise by Netflix. “An injured U.S. soldier, Sgt. Will Montgomery (Ben Foster), is paired up with by-the-book Capt. Tony Stone (Oscar nominee Woody Harrelson) to notify families of killed soldiers — a job that bonds them as they debate different views on serving America. At odds at first, the two find common ground while facing life’s variety of battles. Oren Moverman directs this poignant military tale that co-stars Samantha Morton and Jena Malone.”
5/10- Very good movie that once again proves that war is hell for everybody. TRDB.
Tags: Drama/Romance
May 22nd, 2010
TUESDAY, AFTER CHRISTMAS- 2010. Synopsis by Netflix. “Paul Hanganu (Mimi Branescu) is in love with two women: Adriana (Mirela Oprisor), his wife of 10 years, and Raluca (Maria Popistasu), his mistress of the past several months. Now, at a crossroads, Paul is forced to choose between them in this drama from Romanian director Radu Muntean. Combining careful staging and emotionally intense dialogue, the film presents an unblinking profile of a man in crisis and the women whose lives he’s ensnared.” Good audience reviews but no professional reviews as yet. TRDB.
5/25/11- Excellent review in NY Times today. TRDB.
12/29/11- Very well acted and I enjoyed it despite feeling that I’ve seen it before in many other movies. TRDB. Netflix.
Tags: drama, Foreign
May 21st, 2010
In this eye-opening, equitable documentary, filmmakers Kate Davis, David Heilbroner and Franco Sacchi explore the lives of evangelical Christians who believe that Armageddon is imminent and that Israel will be the site of Christ’s second coming. The film follows evangelicals as they prepare for the apocalypse and examines how their beliefs have influenced the U.S. government’s relationships with Israel and the Muslim world.
5/10- Very informative and well done. I enjoyed it as much as you can enjoy hearing about the end of the world. TRDB.
Tags: documentary
May 18th, 2010
TOUCHING HOME- 2008. Premise by Netflix. “Based on the lives of Miller twins Logan and Noah, this indie drama weaves knotty family relationships and crushed dreams into a tapestry of human emotion. After the Colorado Rockies cut Lane Winston (Logan Miller) and poor grades force his brother (Noah Miller) to chuck his college baseball career, the siblings return home to work in a quarry with their father, Charlie (Ed Harris). Will his alcoholism drive a wedge between Charlie and his sons?” Poor professional reviews but very good audience ones.
2/11- I’ll go with the poor professional reviews. I found it formulaic with poor acting and I turned it off. TRDB. Netflix.
Tags: drama
May 17th, 2010
THE LOVERS OF THE ARCTIC CIRCLE- Premise by Netflix. “The moment they meet, 8-year-olds Ana (Sara Valiente) and Otto (Peru Medem) know they have a special connection. After all, their names are both palindromes — spelled the same whether they’re read forward or backward — and each has a parent looking for a mate. But when their families finally meld, the two children, now young adults (played by Victor Hugo Oliveira and Kristel Díaz) realize that they, too, may share a romantic destiny.”
5/10- Interesting story, very good acting and I liked it. TRDB. Netflix.
Tags: drama, Foreign, Romance
May 12th, 2010
KITES- Premise by Netflix. “Although Mexican bombshell Natasha (Barbara Mori) and Indian hunk Jay (Hrithik Roshan) don’t speak the same language, they quickly develop an intense, mutual attraction. But after they brazenly run off together, the sexy couple encounters severe danger and trouble with the law. Anurag Basudirects and co-writes this big budget Bollywood action movie that was filmed on location in Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Santa Fe.” Reviews are more positive than negative. TRDB.
3/11- Yet another Bollywood with exaggerated credentials. I turned it off. TRDB. Netflix.
Tags: Drama/Romance
May 9th, 2010
LOST SON OF HAVANA- Premise by Netflix. “When Castro rose to power in Cuba, Major League Baseball pitcher Luis Tiant lost the ability to return to his homeland to see his family. This documentary chronicles Tiant’s story and his emotional visit to Havana after nearly 50 years in exile. During the course of his long professional career, Tiant played on three All-Star teams and pitched for six MLB clubs, including the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees.”
5/10- Very good, especially if you followed his career in baseball. Some touching moments, primarily in the second half. TRDB.
Tags: documentary
May 6th, 2010
MISCONCEPTIONS-Premise by Netflix. ” When God calls, you answer, even if it means carrying a child for two men when you’re a married Christian conservative from the South. Worlds collide when one of the dads (Orlando Jones) descends on the mom (A.J. Cook) to “manage” the pregnancy in this comedy. With the African American choreographer and dad-to-be refusing to budge from the surrogate’s home, her very Southern community and anti-gay marriage hubby are in a tizzy.”
5/10- Poor reviews and worse movie. I don’t know what I was thinking and I turned it off. TRDB.
Tags: Comedy, drama
May 6th, 2010
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